Raw food for senior Bearded Collie and Dalmatian

Starting two senior dogs on raw at the same time is absolutely doable — but you've got an interesting challenge here, because Dalmatians have a genuine metabolic quirk that most raw feeding guides gloss over. They process purines differently to other breeds and are prone to urate stones, which means high-purine proteins like offal-heavy mixes and certain red meats can cause real problems for yours. Your Bearded Collie doesn't carry that same concern, but at 11 they'll both benefit from easily digestible, nutrient-dense food rather than anything rich or fatty. Raw feeding done well can be excellent for seniors — but done badly it creates nutritional gaps that cause real harm over time, and the difference is balance and sourcing. Before I point you in the right direction: have either of them been on raw before, and are you looking for a ready-made complete option, or do you want to prepare it yourself?

Good call — and honestly, for a Dalmatian especially, a properly formulated complete is the safer route than DIY. The key for your Dally is keeping purine levels manageable, which means leaning toward poultry and white fish rather than beef, lamb, or offal-rich blends. Chicken and turkey are the go-to low-purine proteins, and they're also gentle for a dog making the switch from lifelong kibble. What's the approximate weight of each dog? That'll help me confirm portion sizing, because Bearded Collies and Dalmatians are both medium breeds but can vary quite a bit.

That's helpful — very similar sizing makes this easier. For both of them I'd go with Natures Menu Country Hunter 100% Raw Nuggets in Chicken. It's a complete, balanced raw food, BFAF-accredited, and the chicken-based formula is low in purines which is exactly what you need for the Dalmatian. The nugget format is great for transitioning kibble-fed dogs because you can mix it in gradually rather than switching overnight — start at about 20% raw to 80% kibble for the first week and increase slowly over three to four weeks. At around 26kg each, you're looking at roughly 390–520g per dog per day once fully transitioned, depending on their activity level. The Bearded Collie can handle a broader protein rotation down the line if you want variety, but I'd keep the Dalmatian on poultry or white fish options only and avoid the red meat or game varieties in the range.

Yes — hydration is the big one. Urate stones form more easily when urine is concentrated, so make sure your Dalmatian is drinking well. Raw food has more moisture than kibble which helps, but it's worth actively encouraging water intake too. If you ever notice straining to urinate, blood in the urine, or frequent squatting without much output, get to a vet promptly — those are stone symptoms. It's also worth mentioning to your vet that you're switching them to raw and that you're specifically choosing low-purine proteins; some vets will want to do a baseline urine check for Dalmatians, which isn't a bad idea at 10 years old anyway. For the Bearded Collie, the main thing to monitor in older dogs going raw is stool consistency and energy — both should improve, but if you see ongoing loose stools beyond the first couple of weeks, slow the transition further rather than pushing through.

Great choice — it's one of the most reliable complete raws on the market and the chicken formula really is the right call for your pair. Take the transition slowly, keep an eye on your Dalmatian's water intake, and you should see both of them doing well within a month. Good luck with them both.